Jannali Nelson graduated from the Stars Program and Year 12 at Butler College in Perth, WA in 2025, the same year she also led her school basketball team to a thrilling Grand Final victory as captain.
Jannali is excited to be starting University in 2026 at Edith Cowan University (ECU) in WA where she will study a Bachelor of Science (Exercise Science and Rehabilitation), which is a 3-year full-time program that will prepare her to become an accredited exercise physiologist.
“I’ve always been involved in sports as I’ve played basketball since I was five. I love the sports environment and the community that sport has given me as it has introduced me to so many friends. I also love science and human biology or anything to do with the body, so I’m excited to put these two things together,” said Jannali Nelson.
“I hope to become a physio and help people when they’re injured as that’s a great thing to be able to do, and someday I’d like to work with a basketball or football team.”
The best thing about Stars was…
The support that I’ve had throughout my years. In Years 9 and 10, I got more involved in Stars as the Mentors helped me prepare my resume and that’s when I was able to get my first job! In Years 10, 11, and 12, I had the support of Stars to help me better understand what subjects I liked and what pathways were available. This inspired me to explore pathways, talk to more people, and build connections that have helped me get to where I am today.
My fondest memory of Stars was …
Our Year 12 trip to Melbourne! It was so much fun, and meeting Stars girls on the trip from other schools was so good. It was incredible to reflect on our time with Stars throughout the years and it all led to here, and we just couldn’t believe it. We all wished we could have stayed longer as it was my best week of the year.
The most important thing the Stars experience showed me was …
You’re never going to be alone – you’re always going to have people there to support and be there with you. Stars gave me support you with my studies, helped me figure out what to do after finishing school, and also helped introduce me to friends in different schools.
A message for a young First Nations girl considering joining Stars …
Join! It will help you so much in the long run as Stars Mentors can help you to be academically and mentally strong. They can explain different ways to do things which helped me to better understand. They can also help you with your resume, cover letter, and getting a job, while also helping you identify your interests, find what you want to study and then take the steps to get to where you want to be in your career.
